Norwood annual report 1895-1899, Part 36

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1166


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1895-1899 > Part 36


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F. P. Flood,


High&Fulton “


66


66


19


50


Frank A. Fales,


Florence


Ave.


F. E. Colburn,


66


25


52


Patrick McDonough, John Breen,


Nahatan


Geo. D. Fisher, Wm. Foreman,


July


3


55


Wm. O'Leary Est.,


Walpole


St.


66


66


3


56


Norwood Associates, 66


Hillside 66


Ave. 66


40


66


3


57 58


C. O. Davis,


Walpole St.


H. A. Spear, Jr.


1


59


Mrs. L. W. Bigelow,


Washington


F. E. Colburn,


66


12


60


M. G. Smith,


Nahatan


R. P. Byrnes,


16


61


James Pendergast,


Railroad Ave.


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


19


62


Rev. J. B. Troy,


Washington


St


63


M. G. Smith, 66


Nahatan & Maple


R. P. Byrnes,


66


20


65


C. W. Guy,


Vernon


F. E. Colburn,


66


20


66


M. G. Smitlı,


Maple


R. P. Byrnes,


22


67


Patrick Darcey,


Silver


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


30


68


Patrick McDonough,


69


H. M. Plimpton Co., H. F. Walker,


Washington


F. E. Colburn,


66


9


. 72


William Bedwell,


Granite


66 66


66


16


74


Cornelius Murphy, Fred Carlson,


Hillside


Ave.


66


66


66


16 16


76 77


Mabel Goodwin,


Highland


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


66


24


78


Mrs. Foster Thayer,


Pleasant


F. E. Colburn,


יר


24


79 80


Geo. H. Morrill, 66


Winter


W. D. Hurtoon & Co.,


66


27


81


H. F. Boyden,


Walnut Ave.


F. E. Colburn, 66 66


Sept.


3


84


Town of Norwood, Balch School Emil Johnson,


Cedar


W. D Huntoon & Co.,


66


14


87


F. E. Mattson,


Cedar


St.


66


7


88


Norwood Associates,


Hillside Ave.


66


66


66


7


89


Thos. Lyden,


Railroad


Wm. Foreman,


66


9


90


Stephen Foley,


Silver


St.


W. D. Huntoon & Co., F. E. Colburn,


66


10


91


Michael Ressenger,


Washington


11


66 24


51


Simon Cheney Est.,


Washington


St.


Wm. Foreman, 66


29


53


54


John P. Reardon,


Off Railroad Ave.


M. & H. H. Collins,


Aug. 3


3


71


J. W. Conger,


Broadway


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


66


10


73


Patrick M. Mahoney,


Cedar St.


66


66


75


Frank Force Est.,


Washington


Wm. Foreman,


E. J. Winn, 66


30


83


E. J. Shattuck,


Linden St.


Washington


3


85 86


Norwood Associates,


Hillside


Ave.


66


7


66


24


30


82


Maple


66


20


64


30


Foundry


66


70


Howard


30


3


66


Junc 14


Joseplı Roby,


Granite


19


Pleasant


66


20


151


List of Plumbing Inspections - Continued.


No.


OWNER.


LOCATION.


PLUMBER.


DATE.


92


Fred L. Fisher,


Phillips St.


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


Sept. 24


93


E. Fred Fleteher,


Everett


Ave.


66


24


94


L. H. Plimpton,


Roek Hill


St.


66


24


95


Geo. Cushing,


Walpole


F. E. Colburn,


Oet.


1


96


Harlow Pond,


Cottage


Wm. Foreman,


4


98


Clas. E. Hall,


Linden


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


66


7


100


Joseph Newark, John Lydon,


Myrtle


. .


66


.6


66


66


23


103


Mareus M. Alden, Fleming Bindery,


Washington


Geo. E. Sleeper & Co., W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


Nov.


2


105


Leander E. Cobb,


Foundry


66


Wm. Foreman,


4


107


M. G. Smitlı,


Winslow


Ave.


F. E. Colburn,


10


110


Miss Nellie Dexter,


Bullard


66


66


12


112


Bennett Pilley,


Niehols


Wm. Foreman, E. J. Winn,


66


1


113


N. Reed,


Chapel


66 W. D. Huntoon & Co., 66


66


22


116


Geo. O. Peterson,


Cedar


66


66


22


117


Patriek MeDonough, Tiot Lodge,


Washington


66


F. E. Colburn,


Dee.


3


119


Wm. O'Leary Est.,


Phillips


Win. Foreman,


66


3


121


Fred. L. Fisher,


Pleasant


66


44


13


123


Matthew Curran,


Washington


66


66


66


14


124


Tlos. Brown,


Pleasant


66


66


66


14


125


Frank A. Palmer,


Dean


٤٠


66


17


126


Margaret Higgins,


Washington


F. E. Colburn,


22


127


Mrs. Hattie Merrill, Thos. Norton,


Warren


66


Wm. Foreman, 66 ...


58


129


Albert T. Olson,


Dean


W. D. Huntoon & Co., Wm. Foreman,


Jan. 1


130


Draper Estate,


Washington


יר


15


131


Chas. E. Pond,


Nahatan


132


Mrs. J. Worthington,


Waslington


66


66


66


66


20


133


Albert T. Olson,


Dean


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


46 20


134


66


66


66 27


1


99


Mrs. Jolin Connors,


Pleasant Cedar


66


66


12


102


. .


27


104


E. H. Morrill,


106


Mrs. N. Sumner,


108


Wm. Williamson,


Washington


St.


109


Thos. Casey,


Casey


66


W. D. Huntoon & Co.,


12


111


Ida J. Phelps,


Maple


114


C. H. Tibbetts,


19


115


Leander E. Cobb,


Foundry


Silver


66


66


66


23


118


120


Frank Williams,


Cedar


W. D. Huntoon & Co., 66


6


122


Daniel Callalıan,


Hill


Vernon


28


128


1898.


4


97


Riehard Everett,


Wash.& Cross


66


66


101


13


Howard


66


2


Nahatan


4 8


15


2


66


14


152


EXPENDITURES OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.


Paid J. A. Scherer, for collecting offal, $202 00


N. L. Sheldon, for legal services, 2 00


F. E. Colburn, for plumbing inspections, in 1896 96 00


E. J. Winn, for plumbing inspections, in 1896, 90 00


J. C. Lane, for legal services, 3 00


Samuel Ward & Co., stationery and printing, 4 80


Melvin & Badger, for supplies, 35 45


E. J. Winn, for plumbing inspections, 1897, 64 00


F. E. Colburn, for plumbing inspections, 1897, 196 00


Eben C. Norton, for plumbing inspections, 1897,


E. J. Winn, for services as examiner of plumbers,


5 00


F. E. Colburn, for services as examiner of plumbers, 5 00


E. B. Thorndike, for printing,


21 50


E. C. Norton, M.D., for supplies, 90


E. G. Webber, for service, 2 00


$735 65


Appropriation, $875 00


We would recommend that the town raise and appro- priate the sum of eight hundred dollars for the use of the Board of Health for the ensuing year.


Respectfully submitted,


EBEN C. NORTON, F. E. COLBURN, LYMAN F. BIGELOW, Board of Health.


8 00


.


TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


PUBLIC SCHOOLS


OF


NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS,


FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1898.


ORGANIZATION, 1897-98.


Chairman, Winslow Faunce. Secretary, Mary J. Alden.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


TERM EXPIRES.


Marcia M. Winslow,


1898


Winslow Faunce,


1898


George W. Cushing,


1899


Milton H. Howard,


1899


Mary J. Alden,


1900


Patrick J. Mahoney,


1900


SUB-COMMITTEES.


Finance, Accounts, and Claims : Mr. Faunce, Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Winslow.


Schoolhouses and Supplies : Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Howard, Mr. Cushing.


Text Books and Course of Study: Mr. Cushing, Mr. Howard, Mr. Faunce.


Music and Drawing : Mr. Howard, Mrs. Winslow.


Truancy and Evening Schools: Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Howard.


Physical and Manual Training : Mr. Cushing, Mr. Faunce. Sewing : Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Winslow.


156


SCHOOLS AND LOCAL COMMITTEES.


High School : Whole Board.


Everett School : Mrs. Winslow, Mr. Faunce, Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Cushing.


North School : Mrs. Alden, Mr. Howard.


East School : Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Cushing.


Balch School : Mrs. Winslow, Mr. Mahoney.


West School : Mr. Howard, Mrs. Winslow.


Guild School : Mrs. Alden, Mr. Faunce.


SUPERVISION AND INSTRUCTION.


Superintendent of Schools (except High) : H. Allen Halstead.


Teacher of Music: M. W. Misener.


Teacher of Drawing : Anna A. Robinson.


Teacher of Sewing : Mary A. McClearn.


Teachers, High School: Albin C. Russell, M. Belle Brooks, J. Florence Ditmars, Elzura A. Chandler.


Teachers, Everett School : H. Allen Halstead, Julie M. Jones, Adelia F. Richardson, A. Florence Graves, Grace B. Whitford, S. Louisa Rhodes, Lizzie M. Fisher.


Teachers, North School : Florence Hill, Julia A. Dono- van.


Teachers, East School : Mary L. Mahoney, Martha B. Parker.


Teachers, Balch School : Cassandra S. Lincoln, Amy I. Gay.


Teachers, West School : Ella M. Gates, Annie G. White.


Teachers, Guild School : Lizzie C. Tucker, Orra E. Guild, Florence M. Ferry, Isabel Kingston, Grace H. Clifton.


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


To the Citizens of Norwood ; -


Your attention is invited to the report of the School Com- mittee for the year ending January 31, 1898.


On Thursday evening following the annual election of Town Officers the Committee met and organized, with the choice of Winslow Faunce, Chairman, and Mary J. Alden, Secretary. No change was made in the Sub-Committees. Two Truant Officers were appointed for the ensuing year, Warren E. Rhoads and Michael D. Creed.


A system of heating and ventilating has been introduced into the Balch School, and is giving good satisfaction. A cesspool has been built at the back of the Guild building, and connected with the one at the west of the Everett by an underground drain. This has remedied the trouble spoken of in our last report.


The East building has received a coat of paint without and a coat of paint and varnish within. The North building has also received a coat of paint and varnish within. Other necessary repairs have been made in all the school buildings.


The outlying school buildings are without modern con- veniences, and the condition of the outbuildings is deplorable. Therefore the Committee would recommend their removal ; and that the North, West, and Balch Schools be furnished with modern sanitary arrangements. The estimated cost of these changes will be about $1,100 each.


There are at present 1,020 pupils attending school; and nearly every school is filled to its utmost capacity. During the last part of the fall term Miss Gay's school numbered


158


between sixty and seventy pupils, of the first, second and third grades ; too many for one teacher. Miss Clara L. Faunce was employed as an assistant to Miss Gay for a short time, using the upper ante-room for recitations.


At the beginning of the winter term a new school was opened in the upper room in the Guild building, composed of all the sixth grade pupils from the Balch and some from the Everett Schools. The third grade pupils in Miss Gay's room were transferred to the room above, thus more nearly equaliz- ing the number of pupils in the two rooms. Miss Clifton was placed in charge of the new sixth grade at the Guild, and a new teacher, Miss Lincoln, was employed in her place at the Balch.


We believe that the corps of teachers in the Norwood schools compares favorably with any in towns of its size in Massachusetts. It would be well for those who desire to criti- cise the administration of school affairs to visit the schools and ascertain for themselves wherein they are deficient, before making statements to the public which are misleading, if nothing more.


Owing to the crowded condition of the schools, it will be necessary for the town to provide greater school accommoda- tions at once ; and we would recommend that an addition of four rooms be made to the Guild building, thereby doubling its capacity. Estimated cost, $10,800. It may also be neces- sary to build a new schoolhouse in the vicinity of the Balch, as many dwelling houses are building in that locality.


Accompanying this report will be found the reports of the Finance Committee, of the Superintendent, and of the Prin- cipal of the High School.


WINSLOW FAUNCE, Chairman. MARY J. ALDEN, Secretary. PATRICK J. MAHONEY. MILTON H. HOWARD. GEORGE W. CUSHING. MARCIA M. WINSLOW.


7


REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.


The Finance Committee submit the following report of expenditures for the support of the Public Schools of Nor- wood, for the year ending January 31, 1898, and also recom- mendations for the same object for the ensuing year : -


Total appropriations,


$21,040 00


Total expenditures, 21,300 36


Overdrawn,


$260 36


The expenditures are as follows :


For teachers and Superintendent,


$12,936 87


Music,


400 00


Drawing,


375 00


Sewing,


131 00


Janitors and sweepers,


1,369 89


Heat and light,


1,227 72


Text books and supplies,


1,509 91


General repairs,


1,235 52


Permanent improvements,


1,443 29


Scholars' tickets (electric railway),


105 00


Water rates,


92 00


Incidentals,


474 16


$21,300 36


160


We would recommend the following appropriations for the support of the Public Schools for the ensuing year : -


For teachers, including Superintendent, $14,550 00


Teachers : music, drawing, and sewing,


1,000 00


Janitors and sweepers, 1,650 .00


Heat and light, 1,500 00


Text books and supplies,


2,000 00


General repairs,


1,500 00


Water rates,


92 00


Insurance,


150 00


Scholars' tickets (electric railway), 100 00


Incidentals,


500 00


$23,042 00


Estimated cost of proposed changes at North,


West, and Balch Schools, $3,300 00


Estimated cost of new furniture, 600 00 3,900 00


$26,942 00


If the recommendations of the Committee in reference to the Guild building be adopted it will necessitate an in- creased expense for teachers, school furniture, fuel, text books, and supplies, etc .; hence we have increased our rec- ommendations for these items for the ensuing year.


WINSLOW FAUNCE, MARY J. ALDEN, MARCIA M. WINSLOW, Finance Committee.


1


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


NORWOOD, MASS, Feb. 11, 1898. To the School Committee : -


I hereby submit my fourth Annual Report as Superin- tendent of your schools, being the twenty-sixth in the series of the Norwood School Reports.


The past year has been one of progress. The policy pur- sued has been to place and keep our schools in line with the best, giving to the children every advantage possible. In this way only can we lay the foundation of useful, progressive, and patriotic citizenship.


There is room for much improvement, but in fidelity to the work, methods of instruction, and results obtained, we welcome all fair criticism.


BUILDINGS.


Number of buildings occupied January, 1898,


7


Number of rooms, 22


SCHOOLS.


Number of high schools, 1


Number of grammar schools, 9


Number of primary schools, 10


I


162


TEACHERS.


MALE.


FEMALE.


High,


1


3


Grammar,


1


10


Primary,


0


9


Music,


1


0


Drawing,


0


1


0


1


Sewing,


-


Total,


3


24


PUPILS.


Whole number of pupils enrolled in all the schools,


including the High,


1,020


Increase over last year,


44


Average membership,


963


Average daily attendance,


914


Percentage of attendance,


95


Number of pupils graduated from the Everett School in June, 1897, 38


Number who entered the High School,


26


Average cost of pupil exclusive of money expended for repairs to buildings, $18 24


Average cost throughout the State exclusive of repairing and erecting new schoolhouses, 25 10


Our schools have been much crowded throughout the year. Nobody is to blame. The town grew, and the children came pouring into school so fast that there were not rooms enough for them.


EVERETT SCHOOL. EIGHTH GRADE.


Teachers : Mr. H. A. Halstead, Miss Julie M. Jones. Whole number enrolled, 60


Average membership, 57


Average daily attendance, 55


163


Percentage of attendance,


97


Number over 15 years of age,


12


Number between 8 and 14 years,


38


Number graduated in June, 1896,


38


Number neither absent nor tardy,


14


SEVENTH GRADE.


Teacher : Miss A. F. Richardson.


Whole number enrolled,


51


Average membership,


50


Average daily attendance,


48


Percentage of attendance,


96


Number over 15 years of age,


2


Number between 8 and 14 years,


43


Number neither absent nor tardy,


6


SIXTH GRADE.


Teacher : Miss Grace B. Whitford.


Whole number enrolled,


57


Average membership,


54


Average daily attendance,


51


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number over 15 years of age,


1


Number between 8 and 14 years,


56


Number neither absent nor tardy,


5


FIFTH GRADE.


Teacher : Miss S. Louisa Rhodes.


56


Average membership,


54


Average daily attendance,


51


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number over 15 years of age,


1


Number between 8 and 14 years,


55


Number neither absent nor tardy,


10


Whole number enrolled,


1


164


SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADES.


Teacher : Miss A. Florence Graves.


Whole number enrolled,


55


Average membership,


53


Average daily attendance,


50


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number over 15 years of age,


2


Number between 8 and 14 years,


40


Number neither absent nor tardy,


6


FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Lizzie M. Fisher.


Whole number enrolled,


53


Average membership,


50


Average daily attendance,


47


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


50


Number neither absent nor tardy,


4


GUILD SCHOOL.


FIRST GRADE.


Teacher : Orra E. Guild.


Whole number enrolled,


50


Average membership,


44


Average daily attendance,


41


Percentage of attendance,


92


Number between 8 and 14 years,


3


Number between 5 and 8 years,


47


165


SECOND GRADE.


Teacher : Miss Lizzie C. Tucker.


Whole number enrolled,


49


Average membership,


47


Average daily attendance,


45


Percentage of attendance,


95


Number between 8 and 14 years,


16


Number between 5 and 8 years,


36


Number neither absent nor tardy,


4


THIRD GRADE.


Teacher : Miss Florence M. Ferry.


Whole number enrolled,


49


Average membership,


48


Average daily attendance,


45


Percentage of attendance,


93


Number between 8 and 14 years,


45


Number between 5 and 8 years,


4


Number neither absent nor tardy,


1


FOURTH GRADE.


Teacher : Miss Isabel Kingston.


50


Average membership,


48


Average daily attendance,


46


Percentage of attendance,


96


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


49


Number neither absent nor tardy, 3


Whole number enrolled,


1


166


EAST SCHOOL. FIRST AND SECOND GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Martha B. Parker.


Whole number enrolled,


36


Average membership,


32


Average daily attendance,


30


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number between 8 and 14 years,


3


Number between 5 and 8 years,


33


Number neither absent nor tardy,


1


THIRD AND FOURTH GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Mary L. Mahoney.


44


Average membership,


43


Average daily attendance,


41


Percentage of attendance,


95


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


38


Number between 5 and 8 years,


6


Number neither absent nor tardy,


2


NORTH SCHOOL.


FIRST GRADE.


Teacher : Miss Julia A. Donovan.


Whole number enrolled,


51


Average membership,


50


Average daily attendance,


47


Percentage of attendance,


94


Number between 8 and 14 years,


1


Number between 5 and 8 years, 50


Number neither absent nor tardy, 49


Whole number enrolled,


167


SECOND AND THIRD GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Florence Hill.


Whole number enrolled,


57


Average membership,


53


Average daily attendance,


48


Percentage of attendance,


90


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


38


Number between 5 and 8 years,


17


Number neither absent nor tardy,


2


WEST SCHOOL.


FIRST AND SECOND GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Annie G. White.


Whole number enrolled,


58


Average membership,


54


Average daily attendance,


53


Percentage of attendance,


98


Number between 8 and 14 years,


1


Number between 5 and 8 years,


57


Number neither absent nor tardy,


10


THIRD AND FOURTH GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Ella M. Gates.


Whole number enrolled,


40


Average membership,


38


Average daily attendance,


37


Percentage of attendance,


97


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


38


Number between 5 and 8 years,


2


Number neither absent nor tardy,


5


168


BALCH SCHOOL.


FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Amy I. Gay.


Whole number enrolled,


64


Average membership,


54


Average daily attendance,


50


Percentage of attendance, 92


Number between 8 and 14 years,


21


Number between 5 and 8 years, 53


Number neither absent nor tardy,


2


FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADES.


Teacher : Miss Cassandra S. Lincoln. .


Whole number enrolled,


42


Average membership,


38


Average daily attendance,


36


Percentage of attendance,


95


Number over 15 years of age,


0


Number between 8 and 14 years,


41


Number between 5 and 8 years, 1


The pupils composing Miss Grace Clifton's school in the Guild building have been accounted for in the rooms from which they were taken.


Next to good teachers is large attendance. The children must be kept in school, and the above figures show that our people are alive to this fact. The percentage of attendance is larger than it has been for several years. This is due mainly to the fact that we have had but little of contagious disease among the children, and also, that the teachers and officers have been on the alert to see that the laws as to compulsory attendance were enforced. This in connection with the rapid growth of our town has placed before the School Committee


169


the embarrassing problem of properly caring for more pupils without additional room, for our schools have for some time been crowded. The only way out of the difficulty, of course, is additional school room, and I would advise the enlargement of the Guild building, as proposed in the foregoing report of the School Committee. The ideal school should not exceed forty pupils, and when the majority of our rooms number between fifty and sixty pupils, the need of relief is apparent to everyone.


The signals for no school on stormy days will be given at 8 and 11.45 o'clock A. M. When the signal is given at 8 o'clock it means no school in the forenoon. Should the storm continue another signal will be given at 11.45, for no school in the afternoon. But if no signal is given at 11.45 it means school in the afternoon. We speak of this in detail, in order that there may be no misunderstanding, for, until recently, a signal in the morning meant no school for the day.


The following changes may be noted in our corps of teachers. In June, Mrs. Powell resigned from the fifth grade, Everett, and Miss S. Louisa Rhodes was transferred from the Balch to fill the vacancy. Miss Grace Clifton, of Roxbury, was subsequently chosen as Miss Rhodes' successor at the Balch.


Miss Grace M. Train resigning from the West, Miss Annie G. White was transferred from the fourth grade, Everett, to the West, and Miss Lizzie Fisher was chosen to fill Miss White's place. In August, Miss Edna A. Lincoln resigned from the fourth grade, Guild, and Miss Isabel Kingston was appointed to the vacancy. In January it was found necessary to give relief to the Everett and Balch Schools by opening a new school. The small room in the upper part of the Guild building was chosen as the most available quarters, and a sixth grade was formed. Miss Clifton was transferred from the Balch as teacher of the new school, and Miss Cassandra S. Lincoln, of Meredith, N.H., was chosen to fill the vacancy thus made at the Balch.


170


In their efforts to accomplish the best results our teachers are to be commended. Besides the daily work in the school- room we have our regular meetings twice a month, at which matters pertaining to the work are discussed, and a course of professional reading pursued. Special grade meetings are also held as occasion demands. Here work from the various schools is compared, future work suggested, the tendency of which is to bring the teaching in all the classes up to the level of the best. The meetings are always held after school, and some of the teachers have quite a distance to walk ; but all are glad to do it, since it makes our work more effective.


During the year several important changes have been made in our text books, especially in the line of written and mental arithmetic and language and grammar. Modern and progressive books have been chosen. The best books are none too good for our children.


In the upper grammar grade we are paying more atten- tion to grammar withont, we believe, neglecting language. Experience has taught us that the study of language to the exclusion of technical grammar, in the grades below the High School, is neither wise nor expedient. We believe that lan- guage should be continued through the grammar course, and also that grammar should receive its due attention the last two years of the course.


It has been well said that correctness and facility in speak- ing and writing are best gained by practice ; but while it is true that habit rather than rules controls a speaker's or writer's use of English, yet, in one who claims to be a scholar, ig- norance in the structure of his language is no more excusable than ignorance in any other department of knowledge. By grammar of a language we mean the facts of the language ; and pupils are to become acquainted with these facts, as far as possible, through their own efforts. Wide knowledge of facts is essential to success in modern life. Let the child be- come a discoverer, and let him experience the satisfaction that comes to every discoverer of truth.


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Grammar should be taught inductively. Pupils should be led, first in the light of their own experience, to study the simple facts of language, then to investigate the more difficult matter of construction and inflection, until they arrive at the general laws which govern its structure. In other words, pupils should be helped to help themselves.


Our public schools are the pride of our State, and Massa- chusetts is as famous today for the number and quality of her public libraries as she is for the character of her public schools. Both are founded for the same purposes - the sup- pression of ignorance and the creation of an intelligent body of citizens. Through the munificence of one of our fellow townsmen, we have the Morrill Memorial Library, the most beautiful and well-appointed structure of its kind in the State. I feel that these two great factors in public education, the public school and the public library, should be brought into the most intimate relationship, and I am sure in the future, as in the past, every inducement to use the public library will be extended to the teachers and pupils, and that every privi- lege will be accorded to them that is proper and consistent.


The relation of the library to the school is very close ; its influence is very great, and rapidly increasing. The methods of instruction are changing in nearly all subjects taught, in consequence of the library methods that are finding their way into our schools. This is especially trne and marked in historical, geographical, and literature studies. The pupils are encouraged to investigate, and carry forward a research by consulting and comparing a number of authors. This is one of the most valuable acquirements a student can possess.


We have recently revised our course of studies, basing it on that prepared for the use of the schools by the State Board of Education.


The revision or modification of a course of study is no easy matter. A course of study is not a thing not to be


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changed. An unchangeable course would mean no advance- ment. Conditions, circumstances, and requirements change : so should the course of study when the true interest and prog- ress of the school require it.




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